4。2。1 Approximators 12

4。2。1。1 Adaptors 12

4。2。1。2 Rounders 13

4。2。2 Shields 14

4。2。2。1 Plausibility Shields 14

4。2。2。2 Attribution Shields 15

V。 Conclusion 17

Bibliography 18

A Pragmatic Analysis of Vague Language in English Business Correspondences

I。 Introduction

With the development of economic globalization and integration, English business correspondences play an increasingly important role in international communication and business activities。 As is known to all, the basic requirements of English business letter are clearness and correctness。 According to this, vague language (also called fuzzy language) seems to be unacceptable in English business correspondences, which aims to avoid pragmatic vagueness。 However, it is common to find all sorts of vague language in business letters。 At bottom, using vague expressions in English business letters is inevitable。 It can help writers express their meanings more clearly。 Therefore, the pragmatic analysis of vague language which is used in business letters should be given more attention。 Through studying the pragmatic functions of vague language, both sides of a trade can get a better understanding of the letter, deepening bilateral trade relations。

This thesis can be pided into five parts: the first part is the introduction part, including the background information and significance of the topic; the second part is literature review; the theoretical basis is the third part; the main body of this study is the forth part, analyzing the vague language in English business correspondences from a pragmatic perspective and the fifth part is the conclusion of this study, summarizing the pragmatic functions of vague language。 论文网

II。 Literature Review

Generally speaking, people tend to use clear and precise language。 However, in real communication, communicators always use some vague language。 Therefore, scholars have paid much attention to the vague language and have conducted many researches on it。

2。1 Studies Abroad

Crystal and DaVy (1975) think that people tend to use vague language in communication in the following four situations: the speaker forgets the correct words; the speaker does not know the words in a certain communication environment, or the language itself has no suitable words; vague language is fine with the conversation; the conversation atmosphere requires vague language。 After 1980s, foreign scholars began to analyze vague language in different fields from pragmatic perspective。 They mainly used cooperative principle and politeness principle。 Australian linguistic Burns (1991) thinks that vagueness originates from the vague nature of human’s perceptive ability, and she also thinks that assorted reasons can explain this phenomenon, such as the pragmatic factors。 Channell (2000) has a thorough explanation of the pragmatic use of vague language。 She believes that vague language has indispensable connection with cooperative principle。

With the increasing popularity of business English as well as the development of pragmatics, the study of vague language in business correspondences from the pragmatic perspective is growing。 Blundell (1998) points out vague language can help the addresser express his purpose more courteously during a persuasive communication。 Cutting (2007) studied the pragmatic characteristics of vague language in all kinds of business communication environment。 文献综述

2。2 Studies at Home